Monday, October 12, 2009

Reading questions

Most memorable experience reading a book?When I was in graduate school, I lived in an apartment that had a pool.One hot summer day when I was reading books on the list for my comprehensive exam, I decided to take my copy of Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse out to the pool, since I hadn’t been able to get interested in reading it any of the other times I’d tried.For some reason, that did the trick.I was transfixed, and ripped through the entire book at one sitting.

Most unusual place for reading a book?At sporting events.I go to my son’s soccer games and sometimes one of the other parents has a book because we’re reading during the half hour warm-up before the game starts.But when I bring a book to a professional sporting event to read before it starts--because I’m the designated parent--I don’t see other folks in the stands who are reading.

Most dangerous place I’ve ever read a book?I think we won’t count the fiction I read behind my textbooks during most of third grade.(That got me banned from using the school library.)So I’ll say reading on the metro trains in Washington D.C.The danger was always that I’d miss my stop, plus when I read I’m pretty unaware of what’s going on around me.

Most luxurious experience reading a book?The final Harry Potter book came out when I was on vacation with my whole family in Hawaii—my husband and kids, my brother and sister-in-law and my nieces, and my parents.The kids read some of it on rented beach chairs under a rented umbrella on Waikiki Beach.I read almost all of it on the airplane from Kona to Phoenix.We all felt lapped in luxury because we were in Hawaii on our long-planned dream vacation, plus we were rich enough in time and money to buy the book and read it right away.

Funniest experience reading a book?Well, the book was so funny it made the whole experience funny—I was waiting with my daughter in the parent waiting room for my son to finish a swimming lesson, and I was reading “Six to Eight Black Men” by David Sedaris.When I got the part about what the Dutch parents get to say to their children on Christmas Eve, I couldn’t stop laughing.I have a very big laugh, and I had been trying to hold it in, but when I got to that part it just came out in big booms punctuated by gasps for air.My daughter was embarrassed, so I kept trying to control myself, and then I’d just break out again.I waved the book and said “there’s a funny part” and then kind of backed down the hall, collected my kid, and managed to drive home wiping the tears of laughter from my face.

Just Say No to Necromancy

My family was playing "Would You Rather" and got a card asking whether we'd rather have three questions answered or be able to resurrect someone. The kids and I went for the three questions, but Ron was hesitating over resurrection. "Oh come on," I said, "necromancy never pays; literature shows us this over and over.""Oh yeah," Ron said, "The Monkey's Paw."And then we went on to the next card. Some things are just clear, once you remember all the stuff you've read about them.

Why Should You Comment?

Because you don't want to be what Georgia Nicholson calls a "lurker."Because I'd love to hear if you disagree with me on anything, especially The Spoiler Manifesto, and I'm always looking for more book recommendations.I welcome comments on older posts, but have to moderate them due to immoderate levels of spam.